Letters to the Editor
Million-Year Picnic
Published Letters: 174 Editor's Choice: 11
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The experience question
[Read the article: The qualms before the storm]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I believe that arguing for Clinton's experience is a loser. Not because she doesn't have it, but because that is not what people look for. There were several very experienced (and qualified) candidates who went nowhere, like Joe Biden.
Remember that Bill Clinton had no experience in national politics when he was elected. Likewise several other presidents in recent history. If you include officeholding in state government, then Obama wins. If you include time as First Lady, then Clinton wins.
But people supporting Clinton need to come up with something more compelling than experience. Right now, that is not what people want.
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Where's my soma?
[Read the article: No climate for old men]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It is obvious that many people are taking reality-distorting drugs, so they are not even able to see that global warming is a problem.
If we get universal healthcare, then these drugs will be available to everyone. The problem of global warming will go away, and we will all be quite happy.
We don't need leaders. We just need someone who polls well. Let's face it -- mankind is not capable of solving hard problems.
And what's wrong with that? We need to get comfortable with extinction. I personally would rather be blown up by al queada. At least then I'd have someone to blame. Besides myself.
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Nope.
[Read the article: Hillary's time of troubles]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Last nite didn't mean anything. Two caucus states and Louisiana. That's not momentum, its a must win. Texas and Ohio are huge prizes.
I have become disgusted with the identity politics of the Democrats. I am disgusted about how Hillary is promoting a feminist slant to her campaign. I am disgusted about how people in the press have made various sexist remarks about Hillary, both those who oppose her (Chris Matthews!) and others.
I am disgusted about how people say this is "historical" because there is both a black man and a woman running.
The Clintons are slimy. That's why they do well. Obama is a decent man. Politics is not about decency.
John McCain is a WAR HERO. I wouldn't mind voting for him. Remember what the Bushies did to him in 2000? His own party.
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Snorkeling vs Scuba
[Read the article: The K Chronicles]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Having done both, I'd give the nod to snorkeling. Its way cheaper, you don't need some certification, and bulky equipment.
You don't have to worry about bubbles in your blood. Always a downer.
And you can't see quite as much. But you can see a hell of a lot. And if you want to go a little deeper, just dive and hold your breath.
Thats the best of all. Just awesome.
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Some may be missing the point..
[Read the article: America closes the book on intelligence]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I don't think that Jacoby is saying that Americans are becoming less intelligent, or "stupider". Rather, she is saying that we are becoming less informed and less knowledgeable, and less able to reason with the knowledge that we have.
This is an important and difficult subject. Just because Huckabee believes that a miracle could happen and he could win the nomination, does it mean that he doesn't understand math? Or does he not want to apply math in his particular case?
Is there a problem inherent in the way TV passively conveys information, or is there simply too much crap TV?
We do seem less capable of objectively analyzing our problems, but it could be that the problems are becoming harder.
I believe we peaked as a civilization in 1984. We haven't made much progress since then. I can't even write a coherent letter to the editor anymore. I just ramble on.
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Killing Bubba
[Read the article: Killing "Bubba" from the skies]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Sounds like fun. Is there a website where I can go and kill Bubba too?
I almost joined the Air Force, 20 years ago. But today it seems more like playing video games and flying model airplanes. I do both of those things today. But I'd really like to kill someone, too.
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U.S. meddling..
[Read the article: Pakistan turns scary for Bush's war on terror]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]..has helped damn few countries around the world. We might have better results if we just focused on incremental changes, rather than doing things like CIA-driven regime change, arms sales, installing puppet governments, and arrogantly claiming to be spreading democracy around the world.
Does democracy work all that great here? I really don't think so. No one has been representing my views for the past 20 years. They just keep taking my tax money. But I digress.
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I like John McCain.
[Read the article: The dude vote]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]But I would never vote for him. Because he voted for the war.
I like Hillary. But I would never vote for her. Same reason.
I have never voted in a presidential election yet. Until I get a candidate I can support, that will continue.
But make no mistake. The Democrats have enabled bush in his policies every step of the way. No one has yet explained to me how they could be against the war and still vote for Hillary. I refuse to give her a pass on that, just because she's a woman.
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Opinion doesn't matter in science.
[Read the article: The cold truth about climate change]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]So true.
As always, scientists are in the uncomfortable position of having to sell facts and theory to a political establishment.
There is a basic problem, acute in the U.S., of understanding science. This article does an important service, helping to understand what happens at the interface of science and politics.
Its called an "impedance mismatch".
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Not about the name
[Read the article: Obama should be proud to be named Hussein]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]If this was just one isolated instance of saying his middle name, I'd say, "who cares."
Its not. This is part of a whispering campaign to paint the guy as anti-american, anti-semetic, un-patriotic, a terrorist supporter, and a muslim radical.
I have no doubt, after reading his first book more than a year ago, that Barack is proud of his name and his heritage.
The sad reality is that political attacks, unless rebutted, become truth. See, e.g. Al Gore (2000), John McCain (2000), John Kerry (2004), to name a few.
How Obama addresses these attacks is important. But not as important as immediate response.
These things decide elections more than actual issues.